“Yes, we agreed on wording just a few hours ago. Meriel pre-recorded it and it’s set to go if and when we need it.”
Helena tried hard not to think about it in a big-picture way. If she just took care of all the preparatory steps she didn’t have to focus on the fact that they were actually really going to war with humans.
“I don’t think the humans have a majority on these ideas. I think the fringes are driving this bus.”
Helena tended to agree. “Hopefully if this ridiculous legislation passes through the both houses, the president will veto and the people will stand up and tell their elected officials to back off.”
“I hope so too. But planning is important. And how are we situated here?”
“If we’re stuck here, we can hold out for some time. The bottom floors are fortified. We’ve got food, water, generators. The armory is stocked. Several staff are trained medics.”
“A year ago, if someone had told me this would happen, that I’d be sitting here in my office planning an actual war with humans, I’d have told them they were crazy.” Rebecca blew out a frustrated breath. “All right, I’ll move to a enclave. Today. Keep me apprised on this business.”
Helena paused. “I think we need some eyes and ears on the ground in DC.”
“Yes? And what do you propose?”
“I think they’re watching us here as well as they can. I may have a way to travel to DC quickly and without notice. If it works out, I can go to DC, plant some spells in the homes and offices of a few people, and be back in a few hours.”
“Do it then. But damn you, Helena Jaansen, do not get caught and for all that is holy do not get killed. I love you like you’re one of my own and that would be something I’m not sure I could recover from.”
“I’ll do my best. I’ll have Marian coordinate with you on getting moved into the enclave as soon as possible and report back when I hear more.”
They left Rebecca’s office. “Have you eaten today?” Faine asked her as they walked.
“I had wedding cake.”
He smiled down at her, unable not to. “Be that as it may, other than what we ate at three in the morning, have you eaten?”
“Not in a while.”
“Here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll have lunch while I call Mei to see what we can set up for later tonight.”
“All right. There’s food set up in the conference room for the live feed for the floor debate in the senate. I’m expecting a call from Lark soon as well so I’ll have to step out at some point.”
“I’ll make the call and meet you in there. Save me a seat.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Rebecca wasn’t the only one who wasn’t sure she’d be able to survive it if anything happened to her. He’d keep doing what he was doing, which was everything possible to keep her safe while helping her do her job.
He dropped her off at the conference room.
“I’ll make you a plate too, but I can’t promise I won’t steal your pickle so don’t be gone too long.”
He shook his head. “Be back in a few.”
He headed to her office and put in a call to Card’s place, hoping they had stopped in San Francisco instead of heading to Tir nA nOg.
Card answered. “It’s Faine, is Mei around?”
“What trouble are you going to get my lovely wife into?”
Faine snorted. “You know me well.” He explained Helena’s plan to them both, as Mei had picked up the other line.
“Easily enough done,” Mei said. “Jayce can help. He’ll bring you, since I imagine you’re not going to let the two of us go alone, and Card will want Jayce with me anyway since he can’t go.”
“Exactly.”
“We’ll meet you in your living room at half past nine our time tonight.”
“Thank you, Mei.”
“She’s something else, your Helena. I’m glad to help.”
He hung up and headed over to watch the floor debate.
Chapter 24
MERIEL Owen appeared on the screen. Beautiful. Confident and calm. The perfect spokesperson on their behalf. Helena tried to relax her spine, but it was impossible.
She’d been on some of the news shows, as had Tosh and others on their side of this issue. But they also bought commercial time so she could speak directly to the American people.
“Today, the United States Senate will have a floor debate regarding the so-called Domestic Safety Act. This legislation calls for the wholesale removal of citizenship and basic civil rights for all Others, regardless of their status before the Magister appeared.
“Naturally, we are opposed to such measures and we hope that you, our neighbors and friends, our co-workers and fellow citizens of this great country, also oppose this legislation.
“That we have to beg to keep rights that are unalienable for everyone else is a humbling and disturbing moment in history. At base, this legislation is unfair. It is racist and patently hateful. Moving entire populations to camps? Chipping us so we can be tracked? I submit to you, my fellow citizens, that this is not American.
“Worry that we might interbreed and lessen the purity of humans, as expressed by Carlo Powers, smacks of the racism of the past that we have worked so hard to eradicate. Eradicating us? Well, that smacks of an entirely different type of racism, one that ended with the deaths of twelve million. How far, then, do we allow our fear and dislike to take us? This is a question you need to ask yourselves. Each and every American needs to ask it, and if your answer is that no matter our personal feelings we need to reject this sort of hateful legislation, I urge you, every last one of you, to call or contact your elected officials. This is happening right now. Today. And it’s imperative that your voices are heard.”
She paused and looked into the camera. “There have been accusations against us. Speeches that attempt to turn around what is truth and use it as a weapon to paint us as unnatural monsters. All I can say to that is that monsters are real. But they’re not werewolves or witches. They’re people who’d attempt to twist our democracy to use it as a weapon to harm those whose only crime is to be different. I reject the words of men like Senator Hayes and Carlo Powers and I hope with all my heart that you do as well. Thank you for your attention.”
The room filled with applause as Faine moved to Helena. “She did good. I can only hope people listen.”
“Me too, alamah. I spoke to Card, we’re on for tonight.”
She blew out a breath. “All righty then. Sit down and eat. They’re about to switch over to the feed for the floor debates.”
TOSH and Delilah entered the senate floor from the dais and took their seats. They had met with their caucus, made up of members from both sides of the aisle, all of whom were going to speak that afternoon in opposition to The Domestic Safety Act.
The anger he’d been holding on to all day long burned in his gut, fueling the fight. This was wrong. So very wrong.
For years he’d known the people he was going to argue with. Had respected most of them despite their political differences. But this? This was different. To stand up and support this bill made Tosh sick to his stomach. He lost respect for every colleague who would do that.
He did report to the special FBI Task Force what he’d overheard Hayes and Powers talking about. Kidnapping and that sort of coercion was obviously criminal. Plotting to bring back the thing that killed so many Others was playing with fire. Not only a threat to the Others, but to everyone.
He gathered his thoughts and his courage as the procedural stuff got done. The gallery was packed and filled with law enforcement. He hoped they could get through this without any sort of riots.